US3473610A - Process for obtaining bitumens from underground deposits - Google Patents

Process for obtaining bitumens from underground deposits Download PDF

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Publication number
US3473610A
US3473610A US658522A US3473610DA US3473610A US 3473610 A US3473610 A US 3473610A US 658522 A US658522 A US 658522A US 3473610D A US3473610D A US 3473610DA US 3473610 A US3473610 A US 3473610A
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United States
Prior art keywords
combustion
boring
treatment
bitumens
packer
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Expired - Lifetime
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US658522A
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English (en)
Inventor
Hans Lange
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Wintershall Dea International AG
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Deutsche Erdoel AG
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Publication date
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
    • E21B43/24—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
    • E21B43/243—Combustion in situ

Definitions

  • the title of the copending application is Process for the Extraction of Liquid and Solid Bitumens From Underground Deposits, and the application relates to a continuous method of extracting liquid and solid bitumens from underground deposits where injection and produc- @Aw Patented Oct. 2l, 1969 rice tion borings are inserted into an underground stratum of the bitumens, combustion gases are fed to the underground deposit and ignited, the bitumens are brought to the surface in liquid and gaseous phases, a portion of the bitumens are recovered, another portion of the bitumens is recirculated into the stratum to be burned by the heat in the reaction zone and a continuous process is provided.
  • the field of the invention is processes for supplying input and output to Wells wherein the input includes heating.
  • a particular eld of the invention is processes for heating wells which includes the introduction of heated uid.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a preliminary preparation of a treatment boring prior to the commencement of an in situ combustion.
  • Still another object of the present invention is an improved apparatus for insertion in the treatment boring of a process for obtaining bitumens from underground deposits.
  • the production of bitumens from deposits containing liquid bitumens by the in situ combustion process disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,344,856 supra is improved by a process and apparatus for the preliminary preparation of the treatment boring and the commencement of the in situ combustion.
  • the present process and apparatus is characterized in that when the space above the packer located above the injection or treatment borings contains traces of oil, the space is filled with water or gaseous nitrogen under high pressure and through this treatment boring the gaseous mixture consisting mainly of carbon dioxide and steam is injected.
  • the gaseous mixture is heated to above 200 C., depending on the pressure and saturation temperature of the steam.
  • the gaseous mixture is gradually enriched with oxygen from at the beginning to 21% by volume.
  • This gaseous mixture is injected into the restricted space in the boring below the packer and into the immediate neighborhood thereof, to displace and oxidize whatever oil may be present.
  • the temperature of the oxygen containing gaseous mixture is gradually increased and ignition is effected by contacting the gaseous mixture containing oxygen with catalysts or readily oxidizable substances located in the bottom of the treatment boring.
  • FIGURE 1 shows in cross section a treatment or injection boring inserted into an underground bituminous deposit from the surface of the ground;
  • FIGURE 2 shows a modified embodiment of FIGURE 1
  • FIGURE 3 is a detailed showing of a modified embodiment of the check valve of FIGURES l and 2.
  • the treatment or injection boring is shown having a casing 1 provided with a perforated liner 20a that extends into the oil -bearing sand 26.
  • the casing is held rmly in place in the surrounding rock 3 by cement 2.
  • a cage 15 is positioned in the casing 1 at the level of the perforated liner 20a adjacent the oil bearing sand.
  • the cage is in the form of a tubular structure with outer and inner jackets of perforated non-corrosive iron.
  • the space between the outer and inner jackets is completely filled with coarse sand while the space inside the inner jacket is partly iilled therewith.
  • a vessel 16 with a fusible bottom 17 is positioned upon the sand in the inner jacket.
  • the vessel is filled to level 19 with a covering liquid such as water containing pieces of the substance such as phosphorus which gnites in the presence of oxygen.
  • a packer 7 with a peripheral seal 9 is set in the casing 1 above the liner 20a in cage 15.
  • the packer is initially tightly sealed with closure caps 5 and 8 to a horizontal position.
  • a tubing 4 is shown lowered through the pivoted closure caps 5 and 8 and central opening 14 of the packer down to almost the level of the cage 15.
  • the lowermost section of the tube 4 contains an upwardly floating check valve in the form of a ball valve 10, a sealing member 11 and a valve closing spring 12.
  • the tubing 4 carries elastic or resilient centering devices 6 at about 10 meter intervals. Besides their centering function, the devices u also divide the space above the packer into separate compartments 27 to provide better heat insulation for the tube 4.
  • the free space above the packer 7 between the casing 1 and tubing 4 is filled with nitrogen under pressure or with water, introduced through valve 24.
  • the packer 7 is shown through which is passed a second tubing 28 with a valve 24 at its upper end.
  • This second tubing 28 permits the introduction of hydrocarbons for combustion and the insertion of a pressure gauge 29 which is lowered by a supporting cable 30 into the cage 15.
  • a plurality of packers 21 are shown located in the liner 20a for the purpose of controlling the uids introduced into the oil bearing sand 26.
  • Casing 1 is closed at the top by a cover 23 which is equipped with a valve 24.
  • Tubings 4 and 28 carry valves 25 and 24 at their upper ends.
  • perforated liners of smaller diameters than casing 1 Such a smaller perforated liner is shown at 20h.
  • the solvent or emulsion is circulated until the casing has been thoroughly cleaned.
  • This temporary tubing is then removed and substituted by the permanent tubing 4 which is lowered into the casing 1 through the central opening 14 of the packer by pivoting the closure caps S and 8 to their vertical positions.
  • the permanent tubing 4 is lowered to almost the level of the cage 15.
  • Nitrogen under a pressure of about 5 to 10 atmospheres above deposit pressure or water is introduced through the valve 24 into the free space above the packer 7 between the casing 1 and the tubing 4. Heated modified gases of combustion at a temperature of about 200 to 295 C. are now forced through the tubing 4 and through the boring into the oil deposit. After about 48 hours the gases of combustion are gradually enriched with oxygen. This enrichment is continued for another 48 hours until the oxygen content is increased to 21% for the purpose of oxidizing the oil or bituminous residues.
  • the temperature of the activated gases of combustion is slowly increased to about 275 to 475 C.
  • These activated gases of combustion consist of carbon dioxide, oxygen and steam.
  • the readily fusible bottom 17, formed for example from tin having a melting point of 232 C., of vessel 16 melts so as to lose the protective liquid therein and the pieces of phosphorus 18 are ignited by the oxygen.
  • vessel 16 also contains a catalytic agent such as platinum to initiate in situ combustion with the formation of a burning front between two specially prepared borings.
  • a catalytic agent such as platinum to initiate in situ combustion with the formation of a burning front between two specially prepared borings.
  • the second tubing 28 facilitates the introduction of hydrocarbons for combustion until the oil content of the burning space is adequately high to support combustion.
  • a pressure gauge 29 is lowered by the supporting cable 30 into the cage 15. Fluid pressure readings are transmitted by the cable to above ground.
  • the flow resistance encountered by gas and steam, e.g. by the activated gases of combustion, in the regions of combustion is usually very slight. This flow resistance has to be kept practically constant in the regions between the treatment and leading borings. Increased flow resistance can result, for example, from the penetration of flooding water into the path of combustion.
  • an increased pressure reading on the pressure gauge activates an increase in the amount of oxygen that is added to the gases of combustion so as to increase the underground permeability to gases.
  • the cage or basket when activated gases of combustion of different compositions are introduced at different levels of the deposit, the cage or basket is perforated only below the level of the uppermost packer 21.
  • the activated gases of combustion having different compositions are introduced separately from above ground through tubing 28 to the upper strata and through tubing 4 to the lower strata.
  • This modified gas of combustion comprises S51-20% steam, 41.5il5 CO2 and 3.5111067?) nitrogen.
  • the condensation temperature is about 295 C. so that at the foot of the boring this temperature builds up with the displacement of large amounts of mineral oil.
  • the fusible bottom 17 of vessel 16 now releases the ignition material.
  • the modified gas of combustion is changed by continually increasing the oxygen content to 21% from its initial composition of 53 t20% steam, 39il5% CO2,

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)
  • Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
US658522A 1966-08-12 1967-08-04 Process for obtaining bitumens from underground deposits Expired - Lifetime US3473610A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DED50833A DE1247238B (de) 1966-08-12 1966-08-12 Verfahren zum Foerdern von Bitumina aus Lagerstaetten

Publications (1)

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US3473610A true US3473610A (en) 1969-10-21

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US658522A Expired - Lifetime US3473610A (en) 1966-08-12 1967-08-04 Process for obtaining bitumens from underground deposits
US810057*A Expired - Lifetime US3512584A (en) 1966-08-12 1969-01-06 Apparatus for obtaining bitumens from underground deposits

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US810057*A Expired - Lifetime US3512584A (en) 1966-08-12 1969-01-06 Apparatus for obtaining bitumens from underground deposits

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US (2) US3473610A (de)
AT (1) AT280188B (de)
DE (1) DE1247238B (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4063416A (en) * 1975-12-03 1977-12-20 Cooper Jack M Steam generator
FR2548207A1 (fr) * 1983-06-30 1985-01-04 Air Liquide Procede d'oxydation de couches sedimentaires souterraines contenant des matieres hydrocarbonees
US4509595A (en) * 1981-01-28 1985-04-09 Canadian Liquid Air Ltd/Air Liquide In situ combustion for oil recovery
WO2015164930A3 (en) * 2014-04-30 2016-04-28 Kovachki Hristo Atanasov Method and device for underground gasification of fuels using a single wellbore for directing gases
US10858928B2 (en) 2018-08-21 2020-12-08 Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc Gauge assembly and method of delivering a gauge assembly into a wellbore

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2804146A (en) * 1955-04-20 1957-08-27 Paul B Crawford Recovery of petroleum oil from partially depleted subterranean reservoirs
US2839141A (en) * 1956-01-30 1958-06-17 Worthington Corp Method for oil recovery with "in situ" combustion
US3024841A (en) * 1958-07-30 1962-03-13 Jersey Prod Res Co Method of oil recovery by in situ combustion
US3127935A (en) * 1960-04-08 1964-04-07 Marathon Oil Co In situ combustion for oil recovery in tar sands, oil shales and conventional petroleum reservoirs
US3276518A (en) * 1961-08-08 1966-10-04 Deutsche Erdoel Ag Process for extracting liquid bitumens from an underground deposit
US3316962A (en) * 1965-04-13 1967-05-02 Deutsche Erdoel Ag In situ combustion method for residualoil recovery from petroleum deposits
US3344856A (en) * 1964-03-26 1967-10-03 Deutsche Erdoel Ag Process for the extraction of liquid and solid bitumens from underground deposits
US3360044A (en) * 1963-03-21 1967-12-26 Deutsche Erdoel Ag Process and apparatus for the recovery of liquid bitumen from underground deposits

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2913050A (en) * 1955-05-12 1959-11-17 Phillips Petroleum Co Preventing explosions in bore holes during underground combustion operations for oil recovery
US2895555A (en) * 1956-10-02 1959-07-21 California Research Corp Gas-air burner with check valve
US3072188A (en) * 1958-12-30 1963-01-08 Gulf Research Development Co Method of heating underground formations around the borehole of a well
US3109482A (en) * 1961-03-02 1963-11-05 Pure Oil Co Well-bore gas burner
US3087545A (en) * 1961-08-09 1963-04-30 Pure Oil Co Method of heating and producing oil wells
US3298439A (en) * 1964-07-29 1967-01-17 Texaco Inc Bottom hole burner

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2804146A (en) * 1955-04-20 1957-08-27 Paul B Crawford Recovery of petroleum oil from partially depleted subterranean reservoirs
US2839141A (en) * 1956-01-30 1958-06-17 Worthington Corp Method for oil recovery with "in situ" combustion
US3024841A (en) * 1958-07-30 1962-03-13 Jersey Prod Res Co Method of oil recovery by in situ combustion
US3127935A (en) * 1960-04-08 1964-04-07 Marathon Oil Co In situ combustion for oil recovery in tar sands, oil shales and conventional petroleum reservoirs
US3276518A (en) * 1961-08-08 1966-10-04 Deutsche Erdoel Ag Process for extracting liquid bitumens from an underground deposit
US3360044A (en) * 1963-03-21 1967-12-26 Deutsche Erdoel Ag Process and apparatus for the recovery of liquid bitumen from underground deposits
US3344856A (en) * 1964-03-26 1967-10-03 Deutsche Erdoel Ag Process for the extraction of liquid and solid bitumens from underground deposits
US3316962A (en) * 1965-04-13 1967-05-02 Deutsche Erdoel Ag In situ combustion method for residualoil recovery from petroleum deposits

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4063416A (en) * 1975-12-03 1977-12-20 Cooper Jack M Steam generator
US4509595A (en) * 1981-01-28 1985-04-09 Canadian Liquid Air Ltd/Air Liquide In situ combustion for oil recovery
FR2548207A1 (fr) * 1983-06-30 1985-01-04 Air Liquide Procede d'oxydation de couches sedimentaires souterraines contenant des matieres hydrocarbonees
EP0131499A1 (de) * 1983-06-30 1985-01-16 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Verfahren zur Oxydation von kohlenwasserstoffhaltigen untertägigen sedimentären Lagerstätten
WO2015164930A3 (en) * 2014-04-30 2016-04-28 Kovachki Hristo Atanasov Method and device for underground gasification of fuels using a single wellbore for directing gases
US10858928B2 (en) 2018-08-21 2020-12-08 Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc Gauge assembly and method of delivering a gauge assembly into a wellbore

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AT280188B (de) 1970-04-10
US3512584A (en) 1970-05-19
DE1247238B (de) 1967-08-17

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